The Vampire’s Redemption

“I know you make me happy,” she said. “And now that I also know you love me too, I’m not letting you run from this.”

Michael smiled. “You’re very stubborn.”

“I am,” Danielle admitted easily. She grinned. “Isn’t that why you fell for me?”

Michael gave her a smirk in return. “One of the many reasons.”

As he pulled her back in for another kiss, Danielle’s heart raced.

There was a sudden bang, followed by the sound of the front door being open violently enough to send it rocketing off its hinges.

“MICHAEL!”

It was Eli’s voice. Danielle and Michael both jumped up, but they didn’t have the chance to rush over and see what the commotion was about; the commotion came to them. Stephen stumbled into the living room, Eli hovering helplessly behind him. It was clear that the black man would have wanted to do something, but he didn’t dare touch Stephen. And really, Danielle thought, who could blame him?

Michael’s brother was a scary sight to behold. His copper skin was clammy with sweat, his pupils were blown wide. His black hair had escaped the hold of the stylish bun and now cascaded down his shoulders like a dark mane, adding to the wildness of his look. But what really disconcerted Danielle was the blood on his T-shirt and around his mouth—crimson, black blood. There was a devastated look on Stephen’s face. Tears streamed down his cheeks. Danielle could feel the panic and terror radiating off him in too-powerful, unbearable waves.

“Oh my God,” Michael all but choked out beside her. He reached out an arm and pushed her back, out of harm’s way. “Stephen?” He tentatively stepped forward, towards his dismayed brother.

Stephen halted. He watched Michael walking up to him warily, like a cornered animal may watch an approaching would-be capturer.

“Stephen,” Michael said again.

He was trying to reach him, to reach the person that was still buried somewhere in there, underneath the pain and dread, but Danielle wasn’t sure Stephen was hearing him. She wasn’t sure Stephen was hearing anyone or anything.

Michael’s eyes never left his brother as he approached him slowly. “Eli, get her out of here,” he said, still never looking away.

Eli was quick to walk over to Danielle in order to take her to safety, but he wasn’t quick enough. Michael’s words seemed to have reminded Stephen of Danielle’s presence, and he moved faster than any of them thought possible.

Before anyone could react, he was in front of her. When Eli tried to stop him, he sent him flying across the room with what appeared to her to be only a flick of his hand, and next thing Danielle knew he was slamming her against the nearest wall.

He held her there. Up close, she could really see the wildness, the madness in Stephen’s dark eyes. It terrified her.

“You’ve got to stop me,” he said. “Make it stop.” His voice was hoarse, it sounded like sandpaper.

There was a raw, desperate plea in every syllable he uttered, but Danielle barely heard it. The craziness in Stephen’s black irises wasn’t the only thing that she could see now that he was so close to her. There were fangs in his mouth—wolf-like fangs that stood out horribly among his human teeth. They were sharp and horrifying, and they glistened red with blood.

It took Danielle’s brain a moment to come to terms with the fact that that was really what she was seeing. When it finally did, her eyes widened. She wanted to push him away from her, but she was too petrified to move.

“What are you?” she asked, choking on the words.

“You know what I am,” Stephen hissed in her face.

“I don’t—”

Stephen slammed her against the wall again, the impact making her bones rattle.

“MAKE IT STOP!”

“STEPHEN!”

Suddenly Stephen was off her. Michael pinned his brother to his own chest and kept him in a firm lock. Stephen writhed and kicked and screamed, but Michael didn’t budge.

“She can turn it off!” Stephen’s wild eyes searched for her again. “Turn it off! Turn off my hunger!”

“WHAT ARE YOU?” Danielle screamed back. And then she froze. “Whose blood is that?” she asked in a voice she could barely hear.

But Stephen heard her, and it seemed to only crush him more. He went limp in his brother’s arms. Michael followed his movements until they were both kneeling on the floor. He maneuvered them both so that they were facing each other. Keeping Stephen still with one arm, he cupped his brother’s cheek firmly with his free hand.

“Stephen,” he called, firmly but not unkindly. “What have you done?”

“I’m sorry,” Stephen cried. “I’m so sorry. I tried to stop…he’s too beautiful…I tried to stop…”

“Stephen!” Michael shook him forcefully. “What did you do? Whom did you feed on?”

“It’s Jack’s, isn’t it?” Danielle whispered. Her stomach was in knots. She felt like she might throw up on the spot. “It’s Jack’s blood.”